Lucknow: Under the leadership of Hon’ble Mr. Justice Surya Kant, Chief Justice of India and Patron-in-Chief of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and Justice Vikram Nath, Judge, Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman, National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and under the guidance of Justice Arun Bhansali, Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court and Patron-in-Chief of the Uttar Pradesh State Legal Services Authority and Justice Arindam Sinha, Senior Judge, High Court of Judicature at Allahabad and Executive Chairman, Uttar Pradesh State Legal Services Authority, the Uttar Pradesh State Legal Services Authority (UPSLSA) successfully concluded its week-long Statewide Special Awareness Campaign on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, conducted from 25 September to 2 October 2026, with its culmination on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti on 2 October 2026. The campaign was organized for sensitising school children regarding the legal provisions and consequences arising under the POCSO Act.
The campaign witnessed an unprecedented response across the State of Uttar Pradesh, with judicial officers visiting more than 3643 schools and directly interacting with over 6,46,100 students in urban, rural and remote areas of Uttar Pradesh as per the figures received so far. Under the guidance of the District Judges/Chairpersons, District Legal Services Authorities, judicial officers from every district of Uttar Pradesh actively participated in the initiative by visiting schools, interacting directly with students and addressing morning assemblies in schools. located in both urban and rural areas. To ensure that the message of child safety and legal awareness reaches every student, Nodal Officers are being designated for schools across the State and are being sensitized to carry forward the objectives of the campaign on a continuous basis, thereby enabling sustained dissemination of information regarding the POCSO Act and child protection mechanisms.
During the course of the campaign, judicial officers sensitized students about the provisions of the POCSO Act, the importance of respecting personal boundaries, child rights, the concept of “good touch and bad touch” and available legal remedies. Children were encouraged to speak up against abuse, seek assistance whenever required, and make use of child protection helpline and legal aid services.
A distinctive feature of the campaign was the direct engagement of judicial officers with schoolchildren. The visit of judicial officers to schools carries a unique impact lending credibility and seriousness to the message being conveyed. Through interactive sessions, awareness talks, competitions, street plays, rallies, and other outreach activities, children were provided an opportunity to understand legal concepts in a simple and accessible manner. The campaign also sought to dispel common misconceptions relating to relationships involving minors and to make adolescents aware of the legal consequences that may arise due to lack of awareness of the law.
The campaign carried a simple yet powerful message: every child has a right to safety, dignity and protection, and awareness is the first line of defence against exploitation and abuse. By taking legal literacy directly to schools, the initiative helped bridge the gap between the justice system and young citizens. The enthusiastic participation of students across the State of Uttar Pradesh demonstrates the importance of sustained legal awareness programmes aimed at building a safer and more informed society. The Authority remains committed to continuing such child-centric legal literacy initiatives and strengthening awareness regarding child rights, legal aid, and access to justice throughout the State.
Reaffirming the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, it was resolved that similar sustained efforts would continue to be undertaken to ensure that children are sensitized from an early age about personal safety, dignity and child rights.
